Ohio State player suspended, father lashes out

COLUMBUS, Ohio 
Ohio State receiver and punt returner Ray Small has been suspended in what his father describes as heavy-handed and unfair treatment on the part of coaches.

Ken Small says his son is out for two games for missing a class, a charge he says his son denies. An athletic department spokesman says the suspension is for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Small's father said in interviews published Thursday that he thinks Ohio State is intentionally trying to ruin his son's career.

Small was OSU's leading receiver through the first three games of the season and returned a punt for a touchdown. Since then he has seen less playing time and has caught only four passes in the past six weeks.